47 people killed in Japan's worst postwar volcanic eruption

TOKYO, Oct 1 (KUNA) -- The death toll from Saturday's eruption of Mt. Ontake in central Japan reached 47 on Wednesday as rescuers recovered 35 more bodies from the mountain, making it Japan's worst volcanic disaster in decades. Police said earlier the toll dead was 48, but later corrected it to 47.
The death toll exceeded the postwar high of 43 killed in the 1991 eruption of Mt. Unzen in southern Japan. Some 1,000 police officers, firefighters and Self-Defense Forces personnel resumed their efforts to recover the victims on Mt. Ontake, Japan's second-highest volcano at 3,067 meters, after Tuesday's search was suspended due to fears of increased volcanic activity.
The rescuers airlifted 35 bodies to the foot of Mt. Ontake, where doctors declared their dead. The volcano, located about 200 kilometers west of Tokyo, erupted without warning before noon on Saturday, when hundreds of hikers were having lunch or making their way up or down.
In addition, 69 people were injured. Mt. Ontake is a popular destination for tourists, especially in the fall, when the leaves are turning red. It last erupted in 1979 but no one died. (end) mk.mt